Checkstrap



March 6, 1945. L, C RTER 2,371,025

CHECK STRAP Filed Feb. 26, 1944- Patented Mar. 6. 1945 CHECKSTRAP Latt J. Carter, Kannapolis, N. 0., assignor to Graton 8; Knight Company, Worcester, Mass.. a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 26, 1944, Serial No. 523,991

'7 Claims.

My present invention is a novel and improved check strap for use in checking the picker stick on looms, and includes a novel form and method of making the same.

Heretofore, it has been customary to make such check straps, particularly where a continuous circular check strap is desired, to make the same in the form of a circle and with the ends either scarfed, stitched, or joined together, or in the form of a continuous circular article. Such check straps necessarily required the removal of parts and adjustments on the loom to fit the loop about the same.

My present invention is directed to obviate the necessity of disturbing adjustments and to eliminate temporary removal of portions of the loom structure when applying, removing, or replacing such a check strap.

My present check strap is in the form of a loop with the end portions readily detachable so that it can be threaded around or applied to the loomtensioning devices adjacent the path of oscillation of the picker stick without removing any or the machine elements or adjustments, the end portions being then readily attached. Furthermore, my improved check strap is of novel form and construction, and with more emcient operation insuring a full and complete checking action at each end during the oscillations of the picker stick within the loop'.

Also, my present invention enables a check strap to be made with a universal adjustaloilityv for different sized 100p and looms, thus enabling one standard size to be carried in stock, from which a large range of sizes can be readily fitted and adjusted.

In carrying out my invention, I may utilize any suitable material but, preferably, I employ a twofold or double-fold leather check strap or the type shown and claimed in the patent to Mark C. Howarth, No. 2,291,587, dated July 28, 1942, as such a, double-layer leather construction is peculiarly beneficial to the loop type of my present check strap invention with the novel form and attachable and detachable end portions.

I have discovered that by making a check strap in the loop form with theopposite ends detachably clamped about an intermediate or plug member, which member may be and-preferably does have itsiace bevelled to receive a full-surface sible, and with an even and uniform wearing operation on the loop portion which engages the friction-clamping members.

' The intermediate and bevelled face plug member at the joined ends may be of less width than the width of the picker stick, in which case an additional checking action is secured as the picker stick wedges along the converging sides or the strap before the stick strikes the plug. Similarly, the opposite end or loop of the check strap which is molded into desired shape may be pre-molded with a bevelled contour for insuring full-width contact with the picker stick during its oscillation. Any wedging action at the plug'end is released automatically by the sliding of the check strap thru its friction members, thus freeing the icker stick on its return stroke.

A further and most important feature of my present improved check strap consists in the universal adjustability accorded by my novel construction. Thus, by forming the open-end loop of a length'and size suflicient for a larger, or the largest, looms intended to be supplied and thereupon forming a plurality of spaced and adjusted openings or markings in each end portion, to which the securing bolts are fitted, I am able to make from a single'standard blank 9. large range of variably sized check straps. These perforations in adjusted or spaced position, or markings for same, would be gauged to correspond with the standard lengths of looms within the range r, for which the check strap is made. Such adjustments could be either marked 1, 2, and 3 for size, and/or could be marked with the standard size or the 100p check straps heretofore employed, such as 22,213, 24, etc. By this arrangement, a single standard line of check straps can be kept in stock instead of a large number and series,

' which require separate bookkeeping, storage, and

handling; and when new check straps are desired the same can be promptly assembled by fitting the bolts and the intermediate plug thru the proper end portions of a strap for the size required.

I may also simply mark the end portions of a check strap where they are brought together contact with the picker stick at the end of the oscillations of the stick at that end, and with a pre-molded contour at the opposite end, I secure a better wearing, longer-lasting, and a more even checking operation than has heretofore been posto form the loop and make the perforations at the last moment just before completing and assembling the same, thus leaving ,the rest of the end unperforated; or, as above noted, I can make the series or perforations for the holding bolts, thereby having the strap ready to receive said bolts at any sized number which it is desired to supply. This feature is of great importance.

Referring to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away, showing my loop check strap;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the check strap threaded thru the friction devices on a mom. the latter being partly in cross-section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form; and

Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view on the line fi-A of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the range of adjustment afforded by my improved check strap.

As shownin the drawing, my improved check strap is of suitable length and of any material strap, as above noted, and is herein shown for illustrative purposes, the strap being designated generally as I, with the. middle portion in the form of a bow or U-shape 2, preferably molded also mold the middle portion of the check strap constituting the bow or U-shaped portion 30 opposite the plug end with a pre-bevelled contour i5 desired, preferablybeing a double-fold leather ple, eflicient, and wear-resistant. In case of wear on the plug members l2 or 25, they can be readily renewed and plug members of different width and different material can be utilized, if found desirable. I prefer to form these plug members .of layers of leather of substantially the same into this shape and with the opposite ends 4 and 5 being united together by bolts 8 and 9 with the intermediate plug member In. These bolts are detachably secured with nuts I |-H as shown, or p in any other suitable manner, the intermediate plug member [0 being provided with a bevelled face I2 on the inner or loop end, which bevel is substantially that of the picker stick 20 at the 'end of the oscillation to give a substantially fulllength contact on the plug member.

This plug member I may be of any suitable material and of any thickness desired, being herein shown as comprising two or more leather layers. Where a double or folded check strap, such asthatof said Howarth patent, is employed, I form the-same with the opposite edges l4 and I5 arranged at the top of the check strap, and the folded edge is at the bottom to obtain the advantages explained in said Howarth patent.

With the loop check strap construction as thus explained, the nuts H or other fastening means strength and density as that of the strap I, and can thus readily build up the thickness of the plug-to vary the wedging action of the picker stick where a narrower plug is employed or into full" width of the picker stick, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. i

As shown in Fig. 5,I have illustrated different methods of fitting or marking the end portions of the check strap I so as to provide for universal adjustability to looms of varying sizes within asubstantial range. As above noted, this is a very important feature, as heretofore check straps, particularly those made in circular form,

loom could not be substituted for a different sized can be readily released and the end portions of the check strap 4 and 5 threadedthru the friction members, usually employed on a loom where a circular strap is desired.

As herein shown in'diagrammatic form, these friction members comprise adjustable rounded members l8 and I!) on each side thru which the check strap is threaded and, thus, the strap encircles the picker stick 20. These friction members l8 and I9 can be released for threading thru the ends 4 and 5 and armsof my check strap' and, therefore, the friction devices can be adjusted, as desired, and the bolts 8 and 9. uniting the ends and the intermediate plug are assembled. V

The width of the plug Ill can be variable. As

shown in Fig. 2,-the width oftheplug I0 is less than the width of the picker stick 20 and, therefore, as the picker'stick approaches the plug end of my check strap, it will engage the sides of the check strap and afford a wedgingand checkin action before the stick actually strikes the face l2 of the plug. Such wedgingis released by the check strap sliding bodily thru'the friction'members l8 and [9 so there will be no interferencewith the stickat the start of the return stroke.

In'Fig.-3 I have illustrated a plug 25 of a width substantially-equal to that of the picker stick 20 with which the check strap is to opererate, so that the picker stick will strike the bevelled face 26 of this .wider plug 25 without the wedging action on the side walls of the check strap.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4. I may loom.

By means of my present open-end loop construction I am enabled to have one standard size provided with suitable adjusting designations so that from a single stock supply on hand, check straps can be readily and instantly assembled to fit any size loom desired within/the range ac- I corded by the length of the strap.

For this purpose, as shown in Fig, 5, I may provide a set of bolt-receiving holes properly spaced for the different sized straps, within the range accorded by the length of the check strap which series of holes are designated at 30-30, which holes are appropriately spaced to receive the'bolt slots 8 and 9 when assembling the loop strap. Two series of such bolt openings 30 can be arranged at the top and bottom of each end portion of the strap l and in spaced relation cooperating with the corresponding bolt openings in the plug I0, as will be appreciated.

These adjustments can be suitably marked to designate the size and, as such sizes are usually defined in length, I have illustrated thesame as marked 22, 23, and "24," so that the bolts fittedthruthe corresponding 22" openings would be for the shorter loops desired, and those for .the longer openings nearer the end portions they will be both in the top row, as shown at 30, and in place of the :cs 3| for the bottom spaced positions; and, conversely, if the markings only are desired, the :12s 3| will be in the spaced relation of the holes 30. Thus, I provide a universal adjustability within a wide range by my present improved constructionwhich would not be possible in complete circular check straps.

I claim:

1. A check strap of the kind described comprising a strap and a plug, said strap being in the form of a loop, with its opposite ends detachably secured about said plug, said plug being constructed and arranged for contact with a picker stick.

2. A check strap of the kind described molded in the form of a loop, a plug member, the opposite ends of the strap detachably secured together, enclosing said plug member which plug member has a face portion bevelled to receive substantially full contact of the picker stick.

3. A check strap of the kind described molded in the form of a loop, having a plug member deplug, said layers being molded into loop form, with the opposite ends of the strap detachably secured together enclosing said plug member, said plug being of less width'than the thickness of the picker stick with which said strap is to be assembled. f

5. As a new article of manufacture, a check strap of the kind described, comprising a strap and a plug, said strap being formed in a. loop, with its opposite ends adapted to be detachably secured together about said plug at a plurality of adjusted positions, the said end portions being provided. with a series of spaced designations adapted to unite the strap ends to said plug at predetermined adjusted positions.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a check strap of the kind described, having a strap member in the form of a loop, and an intermediate plug adapted to be detachably secured to the end portions of the looped strap in variable adjusted position.

7. A check strap of the kind described, consisting in a strap member and a plug member, said strap having a U-shaped loop formed in the middle portion of said strap, and said .plug being united to the opposite ends of said strap member, the loop and the plug being diametrically positioned for contact with a picker stick.

LATT J. CARTER. 

